Bustle



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

A. ALPLANALB;

BUSTLE.

Patented Mar. 8, 1887.

2 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

A. ALPLANALB.

BUSTLE.

Patented Mar. 8

llnrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANNA ALPLANALB, OF CHICAGO, ILLlNOiS.

BUSTLE.

SPECIPICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 858,914, dated March 8,1887.

Application tiled March 16, 1885. Serial No; 159,043. (No model To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANNA ALPLANALB, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Bustles, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to bustles for ladies wear, having for its objectthe'provision of such an article which shall be light, simple, anddurable in construction and cheap of manufacture; and the inventionconsists in making a bustle in sections, the several parts of which areattached together and provided with means for holding them in anextended position when in use, whereby great comfort to the wearer isobtained and a neat and symmetrical appearance is given to the garments,all arranged and combined substantially as hereinafter more fullydescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bustle made inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3is a transverse sectional view on the line :0 a: of Fig. 2. -Fig. 4represents a modified form of my invention. Fig. 5 represents atransverse sectional view on the liney y of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, A B O designate, respectively, the upper,center, or interme diate, and bottom sections of my improved bustle. Allthe sections have substantially the same construction and configuration,differing only in size. Each section has a web,.the several webs beinglettered b c d, the outer edges of which are cut to conform to the innersurfaces of the cases or sections A B 0. Each of the sections iscomposed of a sheath or casing, E, and a coiled spring, I), the coils ofwhich gradually grow smaller near the ends, as shown, thus imparting tothe section to which they conform a crescent shape, the reduced ends ofeach section being connected to a common band, F, adapted to be securedaround the waist of the wearer. The coiled spring of each section ispreferably made of one piece of wire, the coils thereof being graduallyenlarged from the ends toward the middle until the desired width incross section has been attained, when. the springs are bent in asemicircle, and

the sheath 0r casing, having been cut to the corresponding shape, issecured around the spring. The web of each section can, if preferred, bemade in one piece with the sheath or casing, or separately and stitchedthereto, the inner ends of the web being secured to the waistband F. Theintermediate section, B, is made larger than the upper section, so as toproject beyond the edge of the latter, which is adapted to rest upon theinner edge of the section B. The lower section, 0, is arranged below theintermediate section, B, and is a little longer than the latter.

G G designate coiled springs arranged between the webs of the sectionsto hold the same apart and out of contact with each other, said springsbeing arranged between and secured at their ends to the webs of eachsection.

It will be observed that the force of the springs tend to spread thesections and webs apart, and thereby gracefully support the clothing ofthe wearer in place.

It will be further observed that a bustle constructed in accordance withmy invention is extremely light in construction, eflicient and durablein use, and that the dress and garments of the wearer can be held so asto give any desired external contour.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5 I retain the general featuresof the device shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3; but in lieu of the springs D,I employ a filling of hair or other material in the sections A B G, theshape and size of the sections remaining the same. In lieu of thesprings G between the webs of the sections, I employ a stout piece oftextile fabric, preferably such as is known as wigan in the art, whichis stiffened with starch or other suitable substitute, and bent andfolded upon itself so as to serve as a spring, said fabric being securedor sewed at the ends to the webs of the sections, leaving the outer endsfree and independent to act upon the lower outer surface of theadjoining section to hold the same apart and extended.

Each section of my improved bustle is provided at its outer edge with aseries of loops spaced apart thereon and arranged intermediately withthose on the adjoining section, which serve to improve the fit and theexternal appearance of the dress.

These loops con.

IGO

sist of a piece of textile fabric bent upon itself and secured at itsends to the cloth of the sheath of the section at the seams thereof.

Modifications in the form and proportion of the parts and in details ofconstruction herein shown and described as an embodiment of my inventioncan be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing theadvantages thereofas, for instance, in lieu of having a single springbetween two adjoining webs, two or more springs can be employed. I wouldtherefore have it understood that I reserve the right to make suchchanges as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

The word section used in the specification refers to the paddedperipheral pockets and the webs b c d.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is-

1. In a bustle, the combination of three or more pads, each having aweb, the pads being arranged one upon another and of differentdimensions, with springs interposed between the webs, to the peripheriesof which the pads are attached, and a waistband common to all of thepads, substantially as described.

2. In a bustle, the combination of the three pads of approximatelycrescent shape in plan view and circular in cross-section, each padhaving a waistband common to all the webs, with springs interposedbetween and secured to the webs of the pads, as and for the purpose setforth.

3. In a bustle, the combination of the sections of graduated sizes,their webs, a waistband to which the sections and webs thereof aresecured, and loops stitched to the sections and arranged intermediatelywith those of the adjacent section, substantially as described.

t. In a sectional bustle, the combination, with the sections, of aseries of loops secured to the sections and arranged intermediately ofthe loops of an adjoining section, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 5 presence of twowitnesses.

ANNA. ALPL ANA LB.

Vitnesses:

M. 13. PEcK, Miormnn towAN.

